THE Hockeyroos, featuring Gerringong’s Grace Stewart, have arrived in Japan ahead of the Four Nations Women's Ibaraki International Tournament from 12-16 September in Osaka. Typhoon Jebi which hit Osaka earlier this week forced Hockey Australia to re-arrange travel plans with the Hockeyroos flying into Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya on Friday morning. Hockey Australia was informed conditions in Japan would improve and there was no danger for the travelling group. The Hockeyroos had originally planned to fly into Kansai International Airport in Osaka, which was closed on Wednesday after an oil tanker hit and damaged the only bridge from the airport to the mainland. After arriving in Nagoya on Friday morning, the Hockeyroos travelled two hours by bus to Osaka before arriving at their accommodation for the Four Nations to be played at OIC Field at the Ritsumeikan University Osaka Ibaraki Campus. Australia (ranked third in the world) will play against South Korea (10th), United States (12th) and hosts Japan (14th) in the Four Nations which runs from September 12-16. The event gives the Hockeyroos a taste of Japanese conditions with less than two years until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin along with Kookaburras coach Colin Batch and Hockey Australia high performance director Toni Cumpston travelled to Japan last year but this is Australia’s first trip with senior athletes ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “There was a development tour go to Japan last year which was great but to take more of our senior group to Japan and start to get a feel for what it’s going to be like in two years’ time is a big goal. We want to immerse ourselves,” Gaudoin said. The Hockeyroos’ opening match of the Four Nations is against Japan on Wednesday, September 12.

Grace Stewart’s Hockeyroos arrive in Japan for Four Nations

The Hockeyroos team during a team training session, ahead of the Four Nations tournament in Japan. Photo: HOCKEY AUSTRALIA

THE Hockeyroos, featuring Gerringong’s Grace Stewart, have arrived in Japan ahead of the Four Nations Women's Ibaraki International Tournament from 12-16 September in Osaka.

Typhoon Jebi which hit Osaka earlier this week forced Hockey Australia to re-arrange travel plans with the Hockeyroos flying into Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya on Friday morning.

Hockey Australia was informed conditions in Japan would improve and there was no danger for the travelling group.

The Hockeyroos had originally planned to fly into Kansai International Airport in Osaka, which was closed on Wednesday after an oil tanker hit and damaged the only bridge from the airport to the mainland.

After arriving in Nagoya on Friday morning, the Hockeyroos travelled two hours by bus to Osaka before arriving at their accommodation for the Four Nations to be played at OIC Field at the Ritsumeikan University Osaka Ibaraki Campus.

Australia (ranked third in the world) will play against South Korea (10th), United States (12th) and hosts Japan (14th) in the Four Nations which runs from September 12-16.

The event gives the Hockeyroos a taste of Japanese conditions with less than two years until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin along with Kookaburras coach Colin Batch and Hockey Australia high performance director Toni Cumpston travelled to Japan last year but this is Australia’s first trip with senior athletes ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“There was a development tour go to Japan last year which was great but to take more of our senior group to Japan and start to get a feel for what it’s going to be like in two years’ time is a big goal. We want to immerse ourselves,” Gaudoin said.

The Hockeyroos’ opening match of the Four Nations is against Japan on Wednesday, September 12.